Sole-affixing machine



Feb. 6,1934.

A. J. Mass SOLE AFFIXING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet; 1

Filed Dec. 18, .1929

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Feb. 6, 1934.

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Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Compo Shoe Machinery Corporation, .New

York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 18, 1929 Serial No. 414,846

23 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture of footwear particularly by those processes in which the sole is adhesively attached to the lasted upper, and more particularly to sole-afiixing machines of the multiplepress type;

A general object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by which soles may be adhesively aiiixed in a rapid, efficient and economical manner.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a sole-afiixing machine of the multiple-press type which is of simple and sturdy construction and which operates with ease and efliciency, conserving the time and energy of the operator,

whereby an increased number of soles may be I passes said source.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in the, construction of the soleaffixing press and the clamping mechanism thereof.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and 40 objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, portions of the frame and associated parts being broken away for convenience a source of fluid pressure supply when the press Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the right-hand end of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are respectively plan, rear and side elevations of the fluid pressure supply source and associated mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit of the carrier driving mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a detail view partly in section of one of the shoe presses, together with associated parts of the carrier mechanism;

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the shoe press viewed from the right of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 12-42 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a detail view of an operating mecha- 7 nism for the safety switch; and,

Fig. 14 is a detail view, partly broken away, of the air supply chuck mechanism taken along the line 1414 in Figure 6.

Considered generally, the present'invention includes as novel features an improved type of carrier for sole-aillxing presses, improvements in the presses per se, simple means for intermittently driving the carrier and stopping it when each of the presses has reached an approximate position 30 of the traverse, means for aligning the fluid pressure supply source with the press at this time, means for rendering the carrier driving means again operative after the pad of the press has been inflated and all parts have returned to nor- 35 mal position, and means for assisting the operator i1111 rapidly emptying and filling the presses with s oes.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the embodiment shown comprises a pair of opposed elongated front and rear frame members 20 and 21, the bottom edges of which may rest suitably on the floor and the top edges of which stand to a height approximating the waist of the operator. These members are suitably connected at their ends by brace members 22 and form a space which may, if desired, be-entirely enclosed as by means of sheet metal insets 23.

Mounted between the frame members and toward the ends thereof are a pair of transverse drums 24, one or both of which may be driven by a motor (not shown). These drums are of appropriate diameter to give suflicient driving power and to provide suitably spaced upper and lower traverses for a conveyor 25 which-passes there- 1 5 f over. The conveyor may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably of the belt-type, and on its upper traverse is supported by a cross-piece 26 extending between the frame members 20 and 21 and located substantially on the upper ho'rlzontal tangent of the drums 24. The cross-piece 28 thereby relieves the conveyor 25 from the weight of the presses on the upper traverse.

Secured to the belt-conveyor 25 at spaced intervals and extending transversely thereof is a series of cleat members 27 to which the shoe presses 28 are detachably secured as by means of hook members 29. The cleat members are preferably somewhat wider than the conveyor 25 and the opposed frame members 20 and 21 are provided on a line slightly below the lower traverse of the conveyor with ledge members 30 on which the ends of the cleats 2'7 ride, thereby relieving the conveyor 25 of the weight of the presses on its lower traverse.

The; sole-affixing presses 28, as shown particularly'in- Figs. 10-12 inclusive, each comprises a hollow base member 31 having a depression 32 in its top generally conforming in longitudinal contour to the bottom of a shoe to be clamped thereon. Disposed within the depression 32 is an inflatable pad 33 which is connected to an inlet valve having a nipple 34 and an outlet valve controlled by a plunger 35. Disposed over the pad 33 is a wear-plate 36 of leather or the like, which is clamped to the base member 31 at the ends by flange members 37. At the forward end of the press is an up-standing post 38 on which is pivoted a clamping lever 39 which has its longer end extending rearwardly over' the press and ending in a notch 40. This notch is normally engaged with a pin 41 passing through one of a series of holes 41' in a bail member'42, which is in turn pivoted to the rear of the base member 31 and .has a rearwardly extending arm 43, for a purpose hereinafter tobe described.

The other end of the lever 39 extends outwardly at 44 a short distance from the post 38 and preferably carries an anti-friction roller 45, for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Intermediate of the post 38 and the bail member .42, the clamping lever 39 is provided with a plurality of spaced .notches 46 and 4? which are adapted to accommodate pin members 48 and 49 of the instep pad and last pin carrying members 50 and 51 respectively. These last mentioned members are similarly constructed in that they areprovided-with an elongated vertical slot 52 through which the lever 39 passes and across the bottom of which the aforesaid pins 48 and 49 aredisposed. At thetop of the slot 52 there is provided a spring pressed plunger 53 which acts to force the clamping lever 39 downwardly with respect to the members 50 and 51 so that normally the pins 48 "and 49 are in engagement respectively with one of the notches 46 and 47-.

As is shownparticularly in Fig. 4, the fluid pressure issupplied to the presses by means of a reciprocable' chuck 54 which is connected by meansof a flexible tubular member 55 to a suitable source of pressure such as, for example, an air tank (not shown), the chuck being reciprocated :through a system of levers 56 which connects with a foot treadle 57. The chuck 54 may be conveniently constructed as is shown in Fig. 8 so that it is normally closed but is opened by the pressure of .the nipple 34, whereby the pressure from the air tank may be transmitted to the pressure pad 33. I

More particularly "the chuck 54 'may be of a usual type, having avalve pin 58 slidable within a. bore 59 and. having a head 60 and shoulder 60. normally seated and'held against a-rubber gasket 61 by the air pressure. The chuck also is preferably provided with a conical head 62 closes.

With a view to simplifying the construction of the carrier driving means and of eliminating the necessity of a highly accurate carrier stop mechanism, the chuck 54 and head 63 are mounted for limited movement along the path of the air inlet nipples of the shoe presses and are operatively connected with the driving mechanism in such a way that as each shoe press passes the zone of limited movement, the chuck and the air inlet nipple of the press are aligned and thereupon the carrier is stopped. The inflating operation may then be accomplished and the movement of the carrier recommenced.

A preferred form of accomplishing this action is shown in Figs. 6-8 inclusive, in which the head 63 is mounted upon a slide bar 66 which is held in brackets mounted upon the rear frame member 21 and which is normally retracted toward the side from which the presses approachby means of a spring 67. Mounted upon the parts associated with the slide bar 66 is a pivoted latch member 68 which normally lies within the path of 9. lug 69 attached to the front face of each of the shoe presses 28 whereby as the press reaches the zone. of limited movement of the chuck 54, the lug'69 engages the latch member 68, and moves the chuck 54 through the zone in alignment with the inlet nipple 34 of the press. In order ultimately; to release the engagement between the latch member 68 and the lug 69 and to allow the press to continue along the trav-' erse of the conveyor, a cam '70 is provided :which a gradually raises the latch 68 out of the path of the lug 69 and allows the slide bar 66 with' movement of the conveyor be interrupted while the chuck 54 is in alignment with the nipple 34, and for this purpose thereis provided a normally closed limit switch 71 having a pivoted arm 72 preferably carrying a roller 73 which is engaged and opened by the slide bar 66 as itis moved by the lug 69 acting against the latch member 68 to a position slightly'in advance of that shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the power for the conveyor driving motor is cut off and the conveyor comes to a drift stop. When the press has been loaded and inflated, the operator pushes a start button 74 of a control switch '74 which is conveniently located as shown in Fig. 4, and which shunts the power past the limit switch 71 and again starts the motor, whereupon the lug 69 continues to move the slide bar 66 through the latch member 68 until released by the cam 70 and returned to original position, as above described, by the spring 67, and then the limit switch-'71 automatically In order to insure safety in operation, the 'control switch '74 also has an emerge'ncystop button '75, and themechanism 'is provided with a second switch 76, which will be referred to as a "series safety switch", which may be conveniently associated with the system of levers'56 so that unless the treadle 57 is in normal position and all parts are clear, the power circuit willbe open and the conveyor will notstart until such parts are cleared. i

A suitable mechanism for controlling the safety switch '76 is shown in Fig. 13 in'whlch the system of levers 56 includes a bell crank lever 77 to which is aflixed a cam 77 which operates to open the switch 76 as soon as the treadle 57 is pressed downwardly and to hold the switch open until the treadle returns to normal position.

In Fig. 9 there is given a typical wiring diagram of a control circuit which is suitable for use in the mechanism above described with, for example, a single phase 110 volt current. The power comes into terminals L1 and L3, L1 being connected with the terminal L2 in the usual manner. When the normally open starting switch 74 is closed, a pilot current flows from L3 to the terminal a of the switch 74', through the switch to terminal I), through the series safety switch 76, when used, to the terminal d, or directly to the terminal d, as shown by the dotted line, if the safety switch is not used. From (Z the current passes through the solenoid coil E of the relay and then to the terminal L2, thus causing the sliding switch F to be moved against its bias to the left to connect the terminals L1 and 9, L3 and h, and the terminals 9 and k respectively, whereupon the main current flows from L1 to g and thence through the motor M and back through 71. to L3. 7 At such time starting switch 74 maybe returned to its normally open position. The holding current which holds the switch Fin closed position passes from the terminals L2 through the relay E to the terminal d, thence to terminal 12 of the switch 74' through the terminal 0 to the limit switch 71, through terminals i and k of .the switch F, and thence to the terminal h and again through the switch F to the terminal L3. Finally, as will be readily understood, as soon as the stop button 75 of the switch 74' is pressed and the contact between D and c is broken, or as soon as the limit switch 71 is opened, the holding current will be interrupted and the switch F will return to open position, whereupon the motor will stop.

Other features of the invention are shown particularly in Figs. l-4 inclusive in which an air release cam 78 positioned in advance of the loading station releases the air from the presses automatically as they approach by pressing in the plunger 35; a cam 79, which forms a continuation of a guard member 80 acts on the projecting arm 43 of the bail member 42 to release the clamping lever 39; and a cam 81 acts on the rollers 45 as they pass-to lift the clamping lever 39 away from the pad, thereby facilitating the removal of the finished shoe. The cam 81 may be suitably formed from one or more leaf springs mounted upon intermediate supports 82 and having one of the free ends positioned above the loading station so that it is sufiiciently resilient to allow the operator to press down the clamping lever 39 and secure it with the bail member 42 prior to inflating the pad. The guard member 80 passes around the traverse of the machine and serves to prevent entanglement of the bail members 42 of any empty presses.

From the above description the principles of operation and the novel features of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It will be'understood that certain of the features of the present invention may be utilized in connection with various types of presses used in the manufacture and-repair of footwear, as well as with various types of press carriers heretofore suggested for use in machines of the multiple-press type, and various mechanisms for advancing the carrier. Therefore, it is for reasons of convenience and simplicity that the illustrated embodiment of the invention has been confined to a preferred type of carrier and carrier advancing means, and to the air pressure type of press. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to these features or' to the use in sol'e-afiixing machines as distinguished from sole-laying or soleleveling machines, and since certain changes may be made in the above construction, and different embodiments of the invention could be made, without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter -of language might be said tofall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim, as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for holding a shoe against said pad, a source of fluid pressure disposed adjacent said carrier, said source of fluid pressure being limitedly movable along the path of the presses, and means for aligning the inlet valve of each press with the said source of fluid pressure over at least'a portion of the range of the limited movement thereof as the press passes.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for holding a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply mechanism mounted adjacent said carrier and being limitedly movable along the path of the presses, means on each of said presses for contacting with a portion of said supply mechanism for aligning the mechanism with the inlet valve of the press over at least a portion of the range of limited movement as the press passes the said mechanism, and means for thereafter disengaging the aligning means.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for holding a shoe against said pad, means for driving said movable carrier, a fluid pressure supply mechanism .nounted adjacent said carrier and being limitedly movable along the path of the presses, 1

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means again operative to bring another press to aligned position.

4.. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck disposed adjacent said conveyor and limitedly movable along the path thereof, means on each of said presses for engaging and moving said chuck to align it with the inlet valve of the press, and means for thereupon moving said chuck into contact with said inlet valve to inflate the pad of the press.

5. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of: said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck iriounted for limited movement along the path of said conveyor adjacent the inlet valves 01' said presses, means on each of said presses for engaging and moving said chuck to align it with said inlet valve as the press passes by the chuck, means for rendering inoperative the conveyor driving means at such time, means for engaging the chuck with the inlet valve to inflate the pad and then to disengage the same, and means for rendering the conveyor driving means again operative until the inlet valve of the next press is in aligned position with the chuck.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck mounted for limited sliding movement along the path or said conveyor adjacent the inlet valves of said presses, means on each of said presses for engaging and moving said chuck to align it with said inlet valve as the press passes by the chuck, means actuated by the movement of said chuck for rendering inoperative the conveyor driving means at such time, means for engaging the chuck with the in let valve to inflate the pad and then to disengage the same, and means for rendering the conveyor driving means again operative until the next press is in aligned position with the chuck.

7. In a-machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, electrical means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a-circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck mounted for limited sliding movement along the path of said conveyor adjacent the inlet valves of said presses, cooperating means on'said chuck and on each of said presses whereby the presses engage and move the chuck to align it with the inlet valve'as each press passes the chuck, said cooperating means comprising a lug and a pivoted lever, a limit switch for opening the circuit pf the electrical driving means as the chuck is so moved, means for engaging the chuck with the inlet valve to inflate the pad and then to disengage the same, means for shunting the circuit of the electrical driving means past said opened limit switch, means to move the pivoted lever from engagement with the lug, and means to return said chuck to its normal position and thereby close the said limit switch.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, electrical means for driving theconveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inletrvalve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck mounted on a bar having limited sliding movement along the path of said conveyor adjacent the inlet valves of said presses, a lug on each of said presses, a pivoted latch member connected with said bar and positioned normally in the path of said lugs whereby as each press passes the vicinity of the chuck .the chuck is aligned and moves along with said inlet valve, a limit switch operated by said sliding bar for opening the circuit of the conveyor driving means when the bar is moved as aforesaid, means for engaging the chuck with the inlet valve to inflate the pad and then to disengage the same, means for shunting the circuit of the electrical driving means past the opened limit switch, cam means for raising the pivoted latch out of engagement with the lug on the press, and means for thereafter returning the sliding bar and chuck to its original position whereby the said limit switch is again closed.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, electrical means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each 01. said presses including an inflatable pressure" pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck disposed adjacent the path of the inlet valves and limitedly movable therealong, cooperating means between said presses and said chuck aligning said chuck with the inlet valve of each press for a limited distance of its movement past the vicinity of the chuck, means for opening the circuit of the conveyor driving means at such time, treadle operated means for then engaging the chuck with the inlet valve to inflate the pad, means for returning the treadle toward its normal position to disengage the chuck from the valve, means for shunting the circuit of the conveyor driving means past the aioresaid opening in the circuit, and a safety switch in said circuit which is closed when the treadle isin its normal position and is open when the treadle is depressed so that the chuck is not clear of 'the path of the inlet valve.

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, electrical means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck mounted on a bar having limited sliding movement along the path of said conveyor adjacent the inlet valves of said presses, a lug on each of said presses, a pivoted latch member connected with said bar and positioned normally in the path of said lugs whereby as each press passes the vicinity of the chuck the chuck is aligned and moves along with said inlet valve, a limit switch operated by said sliding bar for opening thecircuit of the conveyor driving means when the bar is moved as aforesaid, treadle operated means for engaging the chuck withthe inlet valve to inflate the pad and then to disengage the same, means for shunting the circuit of the electrical driving means past the opened limit switch, cam means for raising thepivoted latch out of engagement with the lug on the press, and means for thereafter returning the sliding bar and chuck to its original position whereby the said limit switch is again closed.

' 11. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, electrical means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck mounted on a bar having limited sliding movement along the path of said conveyor adjacent the inlet valves of said presses, a lug on each of said presses, a pivoted latch member connected with said bar and positioned normally in the path of said lugs whereby as each press passes the vicinity of the chuck the chuck is aligned and moves along with said inlet valve, a limit switch operated by said sliding bar to open the circuit of the conveyor driving means when the bar is moved as aforesaid, treadle operated means for engaging the chuck with the inlet valve to inflate the pad and then to disengage the same, switch means for shunting the circuit of the electrical driving means past the opened limit switch, cam means for raising the pivoted latch out of engagement with the lug on the press, means for thereafter returning the sliding bar and chuck to its original position whereby the said limit switch is again closed, and a safety switch in said driving circuit operated by said treadle which is closed when the treadle is in its normal position and is opened when the treadle is depressed.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor, electrical means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including an inflatable pressure pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply chuck mounted on a bar having limited sliding movement along the path of said conveyor adjacent the inlet valves of said presses, a lug on each of said presses, a pivoted latch member connected with said bar and positioned normally in the path of said lugs whereby as each opened limit switch, cam means forraising the pivoted latch out of engagement with the lug on the press, means for thereafter returning the sliding bar and chuck to its original position combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of-said presses including a pad, a pivoted lever for clamping a shoe against said pad, a loadingstation for said presses located at a predetermined position in, said circuitous path, and a cam member located adjacent said path at a position preceding said loading station, each of said pivoted levers extending past the pivot and providing an extension which contacts with said cam as the press passes therepast to raise the clamping end ofthe pivoted lever away from said pad, said cam member having a yieldable portion extending over said loading station to engage-and hold said clamping lever in raised position while at such station.

14. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said'presses including a pad and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, means for moving said carrier, means successively controllable by each of said presses for intermittently bringing said carrier to a drift stop as each press approaches a limited zone of its path of movement, and means in said zone for increasing the pressure of the pad against the shoe.

15. Ina machine of the class described, in combination, a movable conveyor including an inflatable pad having an inlet valve, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including a pad and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, means for moving said conveyor, means for intermittently bringing said conveyor to a drift stop as each press approaches a limited zone of its path of movement, a fluid pressure supply source located at said zone, means for aligning the inlet valve of the press with said fluid pressure supply source, and means for moving the inlet valve and fluid supply source into cooperative engagement to inflate the pad prior to the next movement of the conveyor.

16. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a flexible conveyor, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said conveyor and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including a pad, a pivoted lever for clamping-a shoe against said pad, means for releasably holding said pivoted lever in clamping position, a loading station for said presses limited at a predetermined position in said circuitous path, and a plurality of cam members located adjacent said path at positions preceding said load-v ing station, one of said cam members acting against the pivoted lever securing means to re- .1

lease the lever, said ca-m forming a continuation of a guard member disposed around one end of the conveyor and serving to prevent said securing means from becoming-entangled if and when an empty jack passes around the circuitous path,

each of said pivoted levers extending past the pivot and providing an extension which contacts with another of said cams as the press passes therepast to raise the clamping end of the pivoted lever away from said pad, the extending end of the pivoted lever being provided with an anti- Iri'ction roller which contacts with the secondmentioned cam.

17. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including a pad, a pivoted lever for clamping a shoe against said pad, means for releasably holding said clamping lever in clamping position, a loading station for said presses located at a predetermined position in said circuitous path, and a plurality of cam members located adjacent said path at positions preceding said loading station, one of said cam members acting against said clamping lever securing means to release the clamping lever, each of said pivoted levers extending past the pivot and providing an extension which contacts with another of said cams as the press passes therepast -to raise the clamping end of the pitvoted lever away from said pad.

18. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including a pad, a pivoted lever for clamping a shoe against said pad, means or releasably holding said pivoted lever in clamp- .g position, a loading station for said presses .:cated at a predetermined position in said cir-, cuitous path, and a plurality of'cam members located adjacent said path at positions preceding said loading station, one of said cam members acting against the pivoted lever securing means to release the lever, each of said pivoted levers extending pastthe pivot and providing an extension which contacts with another of said cams as the press passes therepast to raise the clamping end of the pivoted lever away from said pad, said last-mentioned cam member being formed of leaf springs having a resilient end whereby as the raised clamping lever rests under'such end it may be forced downwardly into clamping position,

19. A clamping mechanism for a shoe press adapted for adhesively aflixing an outer sole to a lasted shoe upper, including, in combination, a pivoted lever having a substantially flat upper edge and spaced notches on its lower edge, last pin and instep pad supporting members disposed on said pivoted lever and each having an elongated slot through which said lever passes, a pin fixed transversely in said slot at the lower end thereof and adapted to co-act with said notches, and a spring pressed plunger disposed at the top of the slot and operating longitudinally of the member to press against the flat upper edge of the pivoted lever whereby the transverse pin is urged into and held in one of the notches.

20. In a shoe-making machine of the class described, in combination, a movable conveyor, a shoe press on said conveyor, retractable pressure means coopeating with said press and adapted to project into the path of the same, a treadle adapted to retract said pressure means, an electric motor for driving the conveyor, circuit control means for said motor including a conveyor operated switch, a switch operated by said treadle, and a manually operable start switchy said start switch being operable to shunt the current past said conveyor operated switch when the latter is open, said treadle operated switch being in series with each of the other switches whereby the circuit cannot be closed unless said pressure means is retracted from the path of said press.

21. In a shoe-making machine of the class described, in combination, a movable conveyor, a shoe press on said conveyor, retractable pressure means cooperating with said press and adapted to project into the path of the same, a treadle adapted to retract said pressure means, an electric motor for driving the conveyor, circuit control means for said motor including a conveyor operated switch, a switch operated by said treadle, a manually operable start switch, said start switch being operable toshunt the current past said conveyor operated switch when the latter is open, said treadle operated switch being in series with each of the other switches whereby the circuit cannot be closed unless said pressure means is retracted from the path of said press, means for closing said conveyor operated switch shortly after the circuit is temporarily closed by said start switch, and means for thereafter opening said conveyor operated switch to stop the conveyor.

22. In a shoe-making machine of the class described, in combination, a movable conveyor, a shoe press on said conveyor, retractable pressure means cooperating with said press and adapted to project into the path of the same, a treadle adapted to retract said pressure means, an elec-, tric motor for driving the conveyor, circuit control means for said motor including a conveyor operated switch, a switch operated by said treadle, manually operable start and stop switches, said start switch being operable to shunt the current past said conveyor operated switch when the latter is open, said treadle operated switch being in series with each of the 'other switches whereby the circuit cannot be closed unless said pressure means is retracted from the path of said press, means for closing said conveyor operated switch shortly after the circuit is temporarily closed by said start switch, and means for thereafter opening said conveyor operated switch to stop the conveyor, said stop switch being normally closed and operable at any time to open the circuit and-stop the conveyor at the will or the operator.

23. Inc. machine of the class described, in combination, a carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses having an inflatable pad having an inlet valve and means for clamping a shoe against said pad, a fluid pressure supply mechanism mounted adjacent said carrier, and means for aligning said .inlet valve of each press in turn with said fluid supply mechanism; said fluid supply mechanism including'a reciprocable chuck mounted for limited universal movement and having a conical mouth adapted to receive said inlet valve.

ARTHUR J. WEISS. 

